A Pot Smoothie Ended Her Girl's Seizures. Then She Lost Her

A marijuana bud is seen in this file photo. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File)

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A 3-year-old Gooding, Idaho, girl tested positive for pot at her pediatrician's office on Oct. 5, and mom Kelsey Osborne was the reason why. The 23-year-old lost custody of her two kids because of it. Now, she's fighting back. Osborne describes the smoothie she made for daughter Madyson—a drink that contained a tablespoon of marijuana-infused butter—as a "last resort," reports KTVB. She says Madyson suffers from seizures, and that the October ones were particularly bad: "They would stop and come back, stop and come back," with hallucinations and vomiting. The girl was also in the midst of withdrawing from Risperdal, which is used to treat schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder (it's unclear why Madyson was prescribed the medication), and Osborne says the pot stopped it all within 30 minutes.

Problem is, "marijuana is illegal, period," says a rep with the state's Department of Health and Welfare. Indeed, Osborne was charged with misdemeanor injury to a child; she has pleaded not guilty. Medical marijuana isn't legal in the state, and in those places where children with epilepsy are permitted to partake in pot, they use cannabidiol oil, which is free of THC. The Twin Falls Times-News says Osborne couldn't get the oil, and so resorted to using butter that she prepared herself. KBOI reports Madyson and brother Ryker, 2, are currently with Osborne's ex-husband; she is allowed supervised visitation. On Thursday, she teamed up with Idaho Moms for Marijuana outside the Department of Health and Welfare in protest. "I won't stop [fighting to get them back]," she says. "If it takes me two years, then it's going to take me two years." (This mom's pot tea was problematic.)

This poor child had seizures because of withdrawal from Risperdal, a psychotic drug used to treat people with serious, entrenched mental illness. The little girl does not naturally suffer from seizures or have them as a condition. Her mother should never have given her Risperdal, nor cannabis. She should have supervised visits until the girl is 18, and be jailed if she harms the child again.

Joe Schutts

Nov 8, 2016 3:56 AM CST

Years ago my uncle suffered with cancer and his chemo treatment. While going thru chemo, I suggested that he enroll into the (Then LEGAL POT Program - OFFERED THRU THE GOVERNMENT) offered for cancer patients (and others) to help with his weight loss from loss of appetite or other illnesses. He refused (even though it was LEGAL and the Government sent cans of Marijuana cigarettes to patients every month). Because of his pigheadedness and stupidity he lost weight and his strength to fight off the cancer and eventually died. Although it might not have prevented this from happening, it could have prolonged his life with some measure of dignity. Marijuana has BEEN FOUND to help people with seizures AND other illnesses - Let them at least have some semblance of a life without the stigma of a "DRUGGIE" attached to their names. As long as we (as a nation) have draconian laws, we will never progress as a nation. If I had a child with seizures, I would have NO PROBLEMS giving the child anything that would help them... Neither should you...

mary

Nov 8, 2016 12:19 AM CST

I hope she NEVER gets 'em back! Honestly, giving MJ to a child! Ridiculous! She SHOULD lose 'em for that! Dang woman!